‘Rocky’ Statue Makes Comeback at Museum - Philadelphia, PA - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

This newspaper article was found on-line and written for the N.Y. Times newspaper. It describes this uniquely Philadelphian icon and phenomenon. This statue really is a roadside attraction. If you are driving down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and turn onto the Art Museum Drive (which is more like a circle), look quickly to your right as you curve around and you can see the rocky statue. The statue is found to the right of the Art Museum Steps (aka: The Rocky Steps), in a small clearing is the Rocky statue, donated by Sylvester Stallone. The fictional Rocky Balboa of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies was immortalized in bronze in 1980. After filming for the movie completed, Stallone donated the statue to the City of Philadelphia. The Steps lead up the the East entrance of the art museum.

My children and I were amused at the tourists, literally from all over the world, who had photos taken with Rocky. Then, without ceremony, they would charge up the steps with their arms held high in triumph, having ascended the stairs. I tried to explain it to the kids but they were clueless. Of all the beautiful works of art on the outside, this one is the most visited. Even the great Washington monument is overshadowed by this fictitious figures.

I can also remember the debate on where this thing should be placed, and even if it should be displayed at all. I know the folks in the art museum, at least the old timers, aren't thrilled with it. Originally, it was at the top of the steps. In 2006, after public outcry, the statue was moved to the Spectrum, which back then, made sense to me. In 1990, the statue was temporarily placed atop the Museum steps for "Rocky V" then returned to the Spectrum again. Then, in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the original "Rocky" film, the 2000 pound statue by A. Thomas Schomberg, was moved once again, to the base of the steps of the Art Museum, where you can visit it today.

From the SIRIS (Smithsonian) SITE:

An over-life size, monumental standing figure of movie character, Rocky Balboa from the movie "Rocky." He is dressed in boxing attire: boxing shorts, shoes, and gloves. He is bare chested. His fists are raised indicating victory. His proper left foot is slightly more forward than the proper right foot. Proper right leg is slightly bent and behind the proper left leg. Arms are raised and slightly bent, wearing boxing gloves, as if he has just won a match and is proclaiming victory to the audience. His head is turned 45 degrees to the proper right and he looks slightly down, as if toward an audience.

Gift of Sylvester Stallone to the City of Philadelphia. The sculpture was originally located at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1982 for the filming of Rocky III. After the filming, the sculpture was moved to the Spectrum. At the movie's premiere nine months later, the sculpture was returned to the museum. Then the sculpture was reinstalled again at the Spectrum. In Jan. 1990, for the filming of Rocky V, the sculpture was moved back to the museum and then returned to the Spectrum.

Medium: Sculpture: bronze; Base: brick & concrete.
Dimensions: Sculpture: approx. 144 x 48 x 24 in.; Base: approx. 18 x 42 x 42 in.
Inscription: A. Thomas Schomberg sculptor/(copyright symbol) 1981 / Art Castings of Colorado (On proper left leg of shorts:) "Rocky" signed Founder's mark appears.
Artist: Schomberg, A. Thomas, 1943- , sculptor. Art Castings of Colorado, founder.

Philadelphia finally realized how exquisitely dumb their linkage to various tourism sites was so they simplified it. To get to the city's sponsored site for this attractions go HERE. Smack dab in the center of the page, down just a little bit is a spot called Favorite Attractions. The tenth link down is for the Rocky Statue (and the steps). Click it and you will be brought to the Rocky PAGE. That's it. You're there.